(Photo: Dominic Cotroneo/WCSN)
Things looked bleak early on for the Arizona State Sun Devils (6-3), but timely hitting in the 6th inning propelled ASU to the 2-1 win over Loyola Marymount (4-6).
Eli Lingos pitched 7 2/3 strong innings for Arizona State, allowing one unearned run on six hits, while striking out six LMU batters as well.
It was a pitcher’s duel all around, with the LMU starting pitcher, Blake Redman throwing six strong innings, while allowing two earned runs and four hits. His strong suit was strikeouts, of which he had 8.
LMU scored in the 4th inning, but RBI singles from Jackson Willeford and Andrew Shaps in the 6th inning, the first RBIs of the season for both, was enough to seal the deal for the Devils.
WP: Eli Lingos (3-0)
LP: Blake Redman (0-3)
SV: Reagan Todd (1)
Player of the Game: Eli Lingos. En route to picking up his 3rd win of the season, the junior pitched 7 2/3 innings of 1-run baseball, keeping the Devils in the game to make up for their relative lack of offense.
Unsung Hero: Chaz Montoya. The freshman relieved Eli Lingos with two runners on and two outs in the top of the 8th and got out of the jam, giving ASU an opportunity to tack on insurance runs.
You knew it was over when: Reagan Todd secured the final out of the game. A 2-1 final score, the game was close from the first pitch at 6:33 to the final out at 9:10. ASU took the lead at a moment’s notice and LMU could have as well, they had runners on 1st and 3rd when the game ended.
Biggest Concern: Errors. Andrew Snow made his 7th of the season and Jeremy McCuin made his 4th. While they are both playing new positions (Snow made his collegiate debut at first), errors can prove costly. Those two guys have accounted for 11 of the team’s 13 errors this season.
Stat of the Day: (12) The number of hits Andrew Snow has this season. In 24 at-bats, the junior has 12 hits, two of them tonight. His .500 batting average leads the team.
What’s Next?: Tomorrow night, the Sun Devils host the Lions for the second game of the three-game series. Spencer Van Scoyoc will be on the mound for ASU and first pitch is at 6:30.
Nick Badders is a baseball beat writer for the Walter Cronkite Sports Network. You can follow him on Twitter @BadderUpSports.
